ELIMINATION WEDNESDAY!

NewsJun 9, 2000

CHICAGO (Friday, June 9, 2000) - In what will be the busiest day in U.S. Soccer's 87-history for high-level club matches, the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will see 30 of 32 teams in action on "Elimination Wednesday" on June 14 as the team's battle it out for a berth in the tournament's third round. The eventual 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion will receive $100,000 in prize money while the runner-up will receive $50,000.

Roughly 24 hours of soccer will played around the country on June 14, with the U.S. Open Cup field of 32 teams being narrowed down to sixteen in the second round of the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Of the 16 matches second round matches only one has been rescheduled off June 14 due to venue availability. That match, between the Riverside Elite (D3) and San Diego Flash (A-League), will be played on June 13 in Hemet, Calif.

For the first time in the history of the U.S. Open Cup, fans across the globe will also have the chance to follow the tournament on television after Fox Sports World, Fox Sports World Espanol and Fox Sports World International acquired the rights to all the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches for the next four years, through 2003.

In addition to broadcasting the final live on October 22 and both semifinal matches live on August 22, Fox Sorts World will also show a featured quarterfinal match live on August 9. Fox Sports World and Espanol have also obtained the worldwide rights to the U.S. Open Cup and will have games broadcast globally in Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

In the West bracket, soccer fans in Chicago will have the opportunity to see two second round matches at "The Hive" in Arlington Heights, Ill. as the Chicago Sockers (PDL) take on the Kansas City Wizards in the first match of a double header. The Chicago Fire will take on the Texas Rattlers (D3) in the second match.

The second phase of the two-referee experiment will be employed throughout the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The two-referee system is an experiment that is being tested around the world by FIFA. In the United States the first of two testing phases was completed on June 3. FIFA authorized trials of the two-referee system around the globe earlier this year, which features two-referees working the pitch and two referee assistants running the lines.

On June 5, U.S. Soccer conducted a blind draw for the second round match-ups live via www.us-soccer.com. The clubs were separated into two geographical brackets, with 16 teams falling in the Western bracket and 16 teams in the Eastern bracket. The newly formatted 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will see all 32 teams in the second round play through their brackets, similar in style to a tennis tournament and the NCAA basketball tournament. Within each bracket, six MLS clubs and two A-League teams were designated as seeds from one to eight.

Dating back to 1914, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in U.S. States soccer and is among the oldest in the world. Open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the U.S., the annual U.S. Open Cup is an 87-year-old-single-elimination tournament based on similar competitions played across the world concurrent with domestic league action.

In 1999, the U.S. Open Cup was renamed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to honor the long-time soccer supporter and pioneer. Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Wizards and Columbus Crew of MLS and the owner of the Dallas Tornados of the old NASL, was one of the sports first major ownership figures and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Fans can get up to date information on the U.S. Open Cup at www.us-soccer.com and clicking on the U.S. Open Cup logo icon.

June 14 (Second Round): An expanded second round with 30 of 32 teams competing in 15 matches across the country (one match on June 13).

July 25 (Third Round): The 16 winners from the second round will continue through their brackets and will be paired against each other in eight games.

August 9 (Quarterfinals): The eight survivors from the third round will continue through their brackets and will be slotted against each other in four matches. Featured match televised on FSW & FSWE.

August 23 (Semifinals): The winners of the semifinals advance to the final. Both matches televised live on FSW & FSWE.

October 22 (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final): The match date for the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final has been tentatively set for Oct. 22 at the home of one of the two finalists. Televised on FSW & FSWE.